Stirring vigorously, she sprinkled in seasonings until stovetop alchemy took hold and the mixture slowly turned into a fragrant stew. She arrived with her family in New York City in October 2022 after crossing the southern border, and the shelter where they stay does not have a kitchen she can use. So she brought her cooking to the cramped kitchen in the basement of the Metro Baptist Church on West 40th Street in Midtown Manhattan. The hands-on kitchen is the magic behind a volunteer-run center that has helped thousands of migrants start over in the city. — for Resources, Opportunities, Connections, Community — the center opened a year ago and has been supported mainly with small donations from individuals and community and religious organizations.

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Persons: Oumou Doumbouya Organizations: Metro Baptist Church, West, Resources Locations: West, Guinea, New York City, Midtown Manhattan